In a maneuver that could reshape the nation’s workplace discrimination watchdog, Donald Trump has nominated a Florida-based federal appellate attorney to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), tipping the scales in favor of Republican priorities if she’s confirmed.
The nominee, Brittany Bull Panuccio, currently handles appeals for the U.S. Department of Justice in the 11th Circuit. Her résumé reads like a blueprint for conservative ascent: former clerk in multiple federal appellate courts, alumna of corporate law powerhouse Jones Day, and past advisor at the Department of Education, where she helped draft policies strengthening the rights of students accused of sexual misconduct. She’s also a card-carrying member of the Federalist Society—the ideological pipeline for right-leaning legal talent.
If greenlit by the Senate, Panuccio would join Republican Commissioner Andrea Lucas and establish a 2-1 conservative majority at the EEOC. That majority could halt or even reverse federal guidance on transgender worker protections and corporate diversity programs—initiatives that have become frequent targets in Trump-aligned political circles.
This power shift follows Trump’s controversial January decision to fire two Democratic commissioners, Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels, gutting the agency’s quorum. The firings were unprecedented; Samuels has since sued, arguing her removal violated laws meant to insulate EEOC commissioners from political whims.
With Democratic Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal left as the lone opposition voice, Lucas—now acting chair—has already taken aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. But significant policy overhauls still require a three-member vote—one more reason the Panuccio nomination carries major implications.
While Panuccio and the White House have remained silent on the nomination, her track record and affiliations suggest a clear ideological throughline. Her husband, Jesse Panuccio, is also no stranger to Trumpworld, having served as acting Associate Attorney General during the former president’s first term.
If confirmed, Panuccio’s appointment will signal not just a personnel change, but a deeper ideological turn at one of the government’s key civil rights enforcement agencies—one likely to reverberate across courtrooms and HR departments nationwide.
